Device for lighting altar candles



Jun 0, 1964 F. J. GAUTHIER DEVICE FOR LIGHTING ALTAR CANDLES Filed Oct. 25, 1962 FIG. 2

INVENTOR Fernand J. Gauthier BYS M ATTORNEY United States Patent F 3,138,944 DEVICE FOR LIGHTING ALTAR CANDLES Fernand J. Gauthier, 5651 12th Ave., Rosemount, Montreal 36, Quebec, Canada Filed Oct. 25, 1962, Ser. No. 232,930 7 Claims. (Cl. 67-6) This invention relates to an improved device particularly for lighting and extinguishing candles in an inaccessible position, for example, candles disposed on a plural tier altar.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a device in which a taper is provided in an optimum position for lighting candles in an inaccessible position as well as extinguishing means directed into intersecting relation with the ignited portion of the taper for extinguishing the taper and/ or a lighted candle.

Another object of the present invention is to provlde a cartridge type taper containing a volatile fuel and wick, and including novel mounting means whereby the cartridge can be removably mounted in the outlet end of a tubular handle including means for expressing air therethrough to extinguish the taper and/ or a candle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an extensible tubular handle progressively tapered from the lower to upper end and including a compressible bulb at the lower end for expressing air therethrough and an air outlet directed toward the ignitable portion of a removable taper assembly.

These together with other objects and advantages will subsequently become apparent from a consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which:

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the novel candle igniting and extinguishing device;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the upper end of the device showing details of construction and assembly of the handle outlet and cartridge type taper;

FIGURE 3 is a further enlarged section taken on the plane of line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge type taper; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the plane of line 5-5 of FIGURE 1, showing details of the collapsible bulb.

Referring to the drawing, the novel device for igniting and extinguishing a candle and/ or the taper is indicated generally at and comprises a tubular handle 12 including at the lower end a compressible bulb assembly 14 and at the upper end a removable, cartridge type taper 16.

The handle 12 comprises a plurality of telescoped, tubular sections 18, 20 and 22 which are respectively tapered whereby air forced therethrough by the bulb assembly 14 will be emitted at a substantial velocity capable of extinguishing the taper or a candle. The adjacent upper and lower ends of the respective sections 18, 20 and 22 will include cooperating flanges (not shown) to prevent separation thereof.

The section 18, see FIGURE 5, includes a lower inlet aperture 24 within a collapsible bulb 26 of the assembly 14. A relatively heavy slug of lead or the like, as indicated at 28, is retained in the lower end of section 18 to provide balance to the handle, and preferably, the slug includes a through bore 30. Removably received in the bore 30 is a headed pin 32 which can be used to extend the wick of the cartridge taper 16.

Although only one intermediate tubular section 20 is illustrated, additional sections may be provided. The upper section 22 includes an angular or arcuate bend 34 3,138,944 Patented June 30, 1964 and terminates in an outlet opening 36. The arcuate bend in tube 22 orients the outlet opening at an optimum extinguishing position with respect to the ignited end of the taper and forms a friction fit for the mounting means of the cartridge taper, as will be subsequently described.

In the absence of a description of the cartridge taper 16, when air is forced through the inlet 24 of tube 18, it will be expressed at a relatively high velocity from the outlet 36, and the fit between the telescoped sections 18, 20 and 22 will be such as to obviate loss of pressure in the handle.

The cartridge type taper 16 comprises a hollow casing 38 which includes longitudinal slot 40 opening into the open end 42 thereof. A flat, tempered mounting spring 44 includes a U-shaped portion 46 which is seated in the casing 38, and a retaining cap element 48 is telescoped into said casing to retain the mounting spring in the casing.

The flat spring includes an intermediate bend 50 which extends through the slot 40 of the casing and forms a hook receiving aperture 52 whereby the device may be hung up when stored and not in use.

The flat spring 44 extends substantially the length of the taper and includes a reverse bend, angmlarly directed, elongated mounting portion 54 which will be removably received in the outlet 36 of tubular section 22 and still permit air to be expressed therethrough. The portion 54 will conform to the arcuate portion 34 of section 22 and be frictionally retained therein.

The casing 38 will receive therein a wick 56 which may comprise an inner absorbent material 58 for absorbing volatile fuel and an outer, coarsely woven sheath 60 of fiber glass or the like which will readily conduct the fuel to the terminal ignitable portion 62 of the wick.

Telescopically received on the casing 38, which includes an intermediate sealing rib 64, is a tubular housing 66 having a terminal aperture 68 through which the ignitable portion 62 of the wick projects. The housing 66 can be readily removed for refueling of the taper or in order to trim or replace the wick.

The taper will be disposed normal to the longitudinal axis of the handle 12 and this is the optimum position from which to light church candles. The outlet 36 of the handle is directed into intersecting relation with the terminal end of the ignitable wick portion 62 and the flame can be readily extinguished by squeezing bulb 26. Additionally, the candles in the church may be readily extinguished and the outlet can be positioned close to the candle flame being extinguished. The cartridge type taper can be readily removed from the air outlet of the handle and the outlet is directed to readily extinguish the taper flame. The cartridge is disposed on its side to present the flame of the taper spaced from the longitudinal axis of the handle whereby the taper flame can be disposed immediately adjacent the candle being lit.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for lighting and extinguishing candles comprising an elongated tubular handle including an inlet and terminal outlet, a collapsible bulb secured on the lower end of said tubular handle and communicating with the inlet thereof for expressing air through said handle, and taper means secured in angular relation at the terminal outlet of said tubular handle, said taper means including an ignitable portion offset from the longitudinal axis of said handle, the ignitable portion of said taper means being mounted relative to said terminal outlet of said handle wherein they are in intersecting relation, the air from the terminal outlet operating as an extinguishing means both for the candle and ignitable portion of said taper, and said ignitable portion being in an optimum position for lighting a candle.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said tubular handle is progressively tapered from said inlet to said outlet whereby air expressed at said outlet is at a relatively high velocity.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said tubular handle comprises a plurality of telescoped sections permitting said handle to be adjusted in length.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said tubular handle includes an arcuately disposed upper portion, said taper means including an elongated mounting spring element frictionally and removably received in said outlet and conforming to said arcuately disposed upper portion.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which said taper means comprises a rigid cartridge including a volatile fuel, said ignitable portion comprising a fire-resistant wick disposed in said cartridge and including a terminal projection eX- tending out of said cartridge.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which said cartridge includes a mounting wire anchored therein, said wire extending along the outer surface of said cartridge and projecting along the outer surface thereof, said wire terminating in a reverse-bent, diverging portion removably received in said outlet.

7. The structure of claim 6 in which said wire includes an intermediate loop for forming a hook-receiving aperture with said cartridge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 209,955 Brandon Nov. 19, 1878 259,645 Magarrell June 13, 1882 930,406 McDonald Aug. 10, 1909 

1.A DEVICE FOR LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING CANDLES COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TUBULAR HANDLE INCLUDING AN INLET AND TERMINAL OUTLET, A COLLAPSIBLE BULB SECURED ON THE LOWER END OF SAID TUBULAR HANDLE AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE INLET THEREOF FOR EXPRESSING AIR THROUGH SAID HANDLE, AND TAPER MEANS SECURED IN ANGULAR RELATION AT THE TERMINAL OUTLET OF SAID TUBULAR HANDLE, SAID TAPER MEANS INCLUDING AN IGNITABLE PORTION OFFSET FROM THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID HANDLE, THE IGNITABLE PORTION OF SAID TAPER MEANS BEING MOUNTED RELATIVE TO SAID TERMINAL OUTLET OF SAID HANDLE WHEREIN THEY ARE IN INTERSECTING RELATION, THE AIR FROM THE TERMINAL OUTLET OPERATING AS AN EXTINGUISHING MEANS BOTH FOR THE CANDLE AND IGNITABLE PORTION OF SAID TAPER, AND SAID IGNITABLE PORTION BEING IN AN OPTIMUM POSITION FOR LIGHTING A CANDLE. 